Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes mountains

Policy approaches

Adaptation covers a wide range of activities, from reducing risk and vulnerability, to taking advantage of opportunities, to building capacities at multiple government levels and across sectors, and coping with climate change impacts (Tompkins et al., 2010). Additionally, the complexity of adaptation requires governments to respond in multiple policy sectors (e.g. agriculture, ecosystems, and urban areas) (Eakin and Lemos, 2006). Central government authorities design adaptation policies that ought to be locally implemented. This requires coordination and feedback among multiple levels of governance. However, weak vertical integration among governance levels and highly heterogeneous capacities among actors at a given level (e.g. municipalities) make success of adaptation strategies implemented exclusively by subnational (local) governments highly inconsistent. A balance needs to be attained between centralized and decentralized approaches in a long-term transition process towards more effective work by local governments. One reason for underdeveloped adaptation policies is the lack of strong institutions, stable budgets and political will as well as appropriate mechanisms to align international agreements to national agendas. The increasing number of policy instruments designed at the global level is not adequately reflected

The UNFCCC is the most prominent international treaty addressing climate change. The UNFCCC has advocated adaptation and has founded the Adaptation Committee. 5 In addition, the Convention has facilitated the creation of the Adaptation Fund, which since 2010 has committed US$ 331 million in 54 countries for climate adaptation and resilience activities, 6 as well as other financial and technical assistance mechanisms for adaptation and resilience-building (e.g. Green Climate Fund, Climate Technology Centre and Network). Existing global estimates of the costs of adaptation in developing countries range between US$ 70 billion and US$ 100 billion per year globally by 2050, although this is likely to be a significant underestimate especially after 2030 (UNEP, 2014). The UNFCCC, as well as relevant financial mechanisms, assists countries to mainstream climate change considerations into national agendas and priorities, and provides a framework for regional joint initiatives and national policy responses to climate change. Even though global mechanisms may lack binding or regulatory capacity, they provide effective leadership and guidance for innovative policies for confronting climate change in national policymaking. During the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP20) in Lima in 2014, countries agreed on the importance of implementing National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) and identifying vulnerable populations in a participatory and transparent manner. The importance of focusing on people in vulnerable situations to prevent damage by climate change was reiterated in the 2015 Paris

in the countries’ adaptation policies. Global policy instruments

Treaties and international agreements are the main framework of global policy, with some also establishing funding commitments for adaptation.

Landscape in Cordillera Blanca, Peru

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